Enter the world geared toward the middle grade child. They range from a step above picture books to just below young adult. Some are more graphic novel in nature. All are meant for kids and the young-at-heart.

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

'Mystery at Lake Placid (Screech Owls)' by Roy MacGregor

Description

THE SCREECH OWLS ARE BACK IN A FAVORITE HOCKEY MYSTERY!

Olympic-sized trouble awaits the Screech Owls at Lake Placid!

Travis
Lindsay, his best friend, Nish, and all their pals on the Screech Owls
hockey team are on their way to New York for an international peewee
tournament. As the team makes its way to Lake Placid, excitement builds
with the prospect of playing on an Olympic rink, in a huge arena, scouts
in the stands!

But barely have they arrived when things start to
go wrong. Their star center, Sarah, plays badly. Travis gets knocked
down in the street. And someone starts tampering with the equipment. Who
is trying to sabotage the Screech Owls? And can Travis and the others
stop the destruction before the final game?

Advance Praise

“I read Roy MacGregor books when I was a kid and
recommend them highly. His newest creation, the Screech Owls, will
certainly become a must-read for any young hockey fan.” – Taylor Hall

“The Screech Owls are great reading for the hockey players in your family.” – Wayne Gretzky

**My thoughts**

This book is the first in the Screech Owls series, being rereleased on February 12, 2013. It is the perfect read for fans of hockey, young and old. The action described during each game makes you feel like you are actually in the stands watching. The touch of mystery adds some intrigue to the action!

The Screech Owls are a peewee Canadian team, who visit the legendary ice rink at Lake Placid for an international tournament. The beginning of the book goes through a lengthy description of all of the characters, in the form of a team roster description of each player. One of the things that I love is that their star player is a girl named Sarah!

The story is told from the point-of-view of Travis, who is an excellent player in his own right. He also seems to be the most "normal" of all the other boys on the team. He is passionate about the game and dedicated to his team.

Someone is messing with them, sabotaging the Screech Owls during the tournament. The team takes it upon themselves to discover who the culprit actually is. You will have several suspects along the way, but may be surprised to find out the truth!

Another great part of this book is the message imparted to the players by their coach. "Hockey is full of mistakes." Also, "Screech Owls are allowed one mistake." You may make a mistake. Own up to it and you can be given another chance.